Stored pressure medium container



July 25, 1933- H. E. HEIGIS S'I'ORED PRESSURE MEDIUM CONTAINER 7 7 Filed April 29, 19:52 2 Shgets-Sheet 1,

Z I I :I

FIGURE INVENTOR HENRy L'Ruar HEIGA! BY .W; 4 .w C. A, M

w ATTORNEY y 1933- H. E. HEIGIS I 1,920,127

STORED PRESSURE MEDIUM CONTAINER Filed April 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4o 39 42 as FIGURE 2 INVENTOR HENRY ERNEST/1516A? ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1933 Bursa STATES, PATENT OFFICE I HENRY ERNEST HEIGIS, F WESTIORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE T0 WALTER KIDTDE & COMPANY, INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STORED PRESSURE IIEDIUM CONTAINER Application filed April 29,

In the application of Daniel Mapes, Serial No. 604,334, filed April 9, 1932 there is shown apparatus embodying certain features which are broadly part of the present invention, which accordingly relates to fire extinguishing apparatus employing a extinguishing liquid propelled by a medium stored under pressure in a'cartridge or other container, and. which embodies more spe-v cifically an improved design of cartridge in which the pressure medium releasing means are unitary with the cartridge and in which means are provided to seal the pressure medium releasing means against the corrosive action of external media and'to indicate the charged condition of the cartridge.

- The present invention therefore contemplates the provision of stored pressure medium cartridges, or containers which are certain in operation, widespread adaptation to use with fire extinguishing apparatus of various manufacturers, which can be sold as units for recharging purposes, which are easily replaced, and which are in general foolproof.

The invention will now bedescribed in greater detail in conn ction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal view of an extinguisher embodyingthe invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical, central section of the upper portion of a pressure cartridge and pressure medium releasing means in accordance with the invention.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is represented at 1 a standard shell or container for holding a liquid fire extinguisher medisuch as water, calcium chloride solution or other suitable fire extingushing medium,

which is filled into the container'up to the level of the filling indicator 2. The shell is provided with a handle 3 for carrying the extinguisher in an erect' position, another handle 4 for carrying the extinguisher in an inverted position, a strainer 5, an outlet elbow 6, a standard hose 7 coupled to the outlet elbow and having a discharge nozzle- 8. A cage comprising an upper flange 9, a bottom plate 10 and suspension rods 11 is supported upon a shoulder 12 in the neck of which are capable of extension 19 adapted to engage,

cartridge 13.

1932. Serial No. 608,214.

the shell and in turn supports a cartridge 13 containing a medium under pressure, such as liquid carbon dioxide, for propelling the liquid fire extinguishing medium. from the shell. The cartridge 13 is provided with a coupling 14 containing means for efli'ecting release of cartridge, said releasing means becoming operative upon inversion and arring of the shell, whereby to cause forcible engagement of the releasing formed on a cap the shell. The-cap 16' is threaded to ,the neck of the shell with an intervening gasket 17 which not only effects a leakage-tight 'oint with the shell, but secures the flange 9 of the cage-against movement. The cap 16 is otherwise standard, being provided with a rim 18 for carryihg the extinguisher in an upright position and for efiecting rotation of the cap.

In Figure 2 the reference numerals 13 and 14 have the same significance as in Figure 1. The coupling 1 1 is provided with a threaded leakagetight, cooperating threads in the neck of the At the lower end of the threaded extension 19 is in the form of, a screen which is shown se-' cured to the extension by rolling over a lip 21, the extension being provided with a central bore generally represented by the reference numeral 22. The passage 22 not only communicatesthrough the strainer 20 with achamber generally indicated by the reference numeral '24.

' The passage 23 is adapted to be closed by a thimble 25 which is provided with threads 26 engaging cooperating threads in the coupling 14. The thimble 25 is provided with a central passage 27 which is normally closed by a frangible disc 28 and a gasket or washer 29 of suitable material, the frangible disc and gasket being secured in position by rolling over a lip 30 on the lower tion ofithe thimble 25. The gasket 29 should be of a material whichwill seal the pressure medium within the container 13 when the meanswith a projection 15 16 and extending within' shown a strainer 20 the pressure medium fromthe reduced .por-

'thimble is tightened to bring the gasket 29 into forcible contact with the seating surface 31 encircling the passage 23.'

The pressure medium releasing means for the embodiment of the invention show-n in Figure 2 is constituted by the frangible disc puncturing element 32, which is provided with a chamfered cutting edge at its lowermost extremity and which is provided with a passage 33. In' consequence of this construction, when the frangible disc 28 is ruptured and the pressure medium is released, the pressure medium escapes through the passage 33. a

The puncturing element 32 is normally maintained in its uppermost position by means-of a flange 34 secured thereto and pressed upwardly by a spring 35 against a stop ring 36 which is secured against a shoulder 37 by rolling over of the metal 38 of the coupling 14.. The assembly of the unit is completed by the insertion of a disc. 39 of fragile material such as thinbakelite or glass, a'water-tight seal being efiected at 40 by means of sealing wax or other suitable material, the purpose of the disc 39 being to maintain the pressure medium releasing means free from corrosion and to serve, when fractured, as an indication that the cartridge has been emptied, either accidentally, as by rupturing of the frangible disc 28 upon development of excessive pressure within the cartridge, or intentionally, in the manner about to be described.

' With the extinguisher in its erect position as shown in Figure 1, operation of the extinguisher involves overturning it, grasping it by the'ha ndle 4 and jarring theextinguisher as by stri ng it on the floor or ground, so as to cause the disc 39 (Figure 2) to be fractured by forcible contact with the projection '15 on the inner-side of the cap 16 and the frangible disc 28 to be punctured by the element 32. As, shown in Figure 1 the innermost end'of the projection 15 is cross-grooved at 41 to provide free escape of the pressure medium from the passage 33 through the 'opening 42 in the stop ring 36 and thence past the. fractured disc 39 into the liquid extinguishingmedium in the shell 1, through which the pressure medium rises to the upper surface of the liquid medium, upon which the pressure acts to propel the liquid medium through the hose 7 and nozzle'8.-'

' i In view of the presentinvention the act of recharging the extinguisher is exceedingly simple and comprises removingthe cap 16 v from the shell 1, removing the cartridge '13 and substituting'a-new cartridge, filling the shell with liquid fire extinguishing medium up to the level of the filling indicator 2, and replacing the'cap 16.

. Further, in view of the fact that the pressure medium releasing means in accordance with the present invention are unitar with the cartridge and ma be provide with means for sealing t e releasing means against the corrosive action of external media and for indicating the-charged condition of the cartridge, as compared with less satisfactory constructions previously employed, it will be seen that I have provided a cartridge which is more certain in operation, and which'is in general foolproof.

It will also be seen that, by reason of the exceedingly simple means required for effecting operation of the pressure medium releasing means, I haveprovideda cartridge whichiisv capable of widespread adaptation to usewith fire extinguishmg apparatus of various manufacturers:

F rom the foregoing description it will be seen that I have made decided improvemerits in stored pressure medium cartridges and containers for use with pressure propelled liquid fire extmgulshing mediums,

these improvements having been made with I in the appended claims.

I claim: p 1. As an article of manufacture a vessel for containing a medium under pressure, said vessel being formed with at least one s end open, a closure member for an open end of the vessel, a passage through said closure member, a frangible disc within the closure member to close the passage against the escape of the pressure medium, securing means to secure the disc over the end of the passage, a passage through the securing means, puncturing means to puncture the disc to permit the escape. of the medium whendesired, said puncturing means being provided with a passage to permit dis- 1 charge of themedium therethrough, means to normally maintain the puncturin means out of contact with the frangible dlsc, and a fracturable seal beyond the last named means normally obstructin the path of discharge of the pressure me ium and serving both as a guard against corrosion within the closure memberandas a means of indicating the discharge of the pressure medium, when the sealis fractured.

, 2. As an article of manufacture a vessel for containing a medium under pressure, said vessel being formed with at least one end open, a closure'member for an open end of the vessel, a passage through said closure member, a frangible disc within the closure member'to close the passage against the escape of the pressure medium, securing means to secure the disc over the end of the passage, a passage through the securing disc to permit the escape of the medium when desired, said puncturing means being provided with a passage to permit discharge of the medium therethrough, means to nor mally maintain the puncturing means out of contact with the frangible disc, the last -.'a guard against corrosion within the closure member-and a means of indicating the (11scharge of the pressure medium, when the .seal isfractured.

3. As an article of manufacture a vessel for conta ning a medium under pressure,

' said vessel'being. formed with at least one end open, a closure member for an open end of the vessel, a passage through said closuremember, a frangible disc within the 'closure member to close the passage against the escape of the pressure medlum, puncturing means to puncture the dlsc to permit the escape of the medium when desired, means to normally maintain the puncturing means out of contact with the frangible disc, and a fracturable seal beyond the last named means normally obstructing the pathof discharge of the pressure medium and serving both as a guard against corrosion within the closure member and as a means of indicating thedischarge of the pressure medium, when the sealfis fractured.

4. The combination with a container for a liquid fire extinguishing medium having a neck end anda cap therefor and a vessel within the container and itself containing a pressure medium for ropelling the liquid fire extinguishing me mm from the container, said vessel having means to retain the medium within the vessel and to release the medlum therefrom and means to seal 1 the last named means against contact with external media, of stationary means on said cap to break said seal and'to eifectrelease of the pressure medium from said vessel, and means to movably support the vessel within the container so 'that inversion of the container will cause the vessel to move to a position I to' efiect an operating engagement pressure medium from the vessel.

' HENRYERNEST HEIGISL ,with the stationary" means on said ca ;to'-

break said seal and to effect release 6 'they- 

